On the first day of the Qingming Festival holiday earlier this month, a special intangible heritage storytelling event was organized at a bookstore in Qiujiadian town, Tai'an. As an inheritor of the local tea-making technique demonstrated this ancient craft, visitors sipped freshly brewed tea and browsed books about Taishan Mountain tea culture and Chinese intangible heritage.

"I used to just drink tea. Today I learned that every step has a meaning and every sip tells a story," said Di Yunqing, one of the visitors at the event.

This innovative blend of intangible heritage and reading brings static knowledge to life through live demonstrations, allowing traditions to step off the page and into people's hands.

Tan Qianqian, a local staff member, noted that reading is the root of cultural heritage while tourism is its carrier.

"By combining the two, we preserve heritage, enrich tourism, and promote reading — creating both cultural and economic benefits," Tan added.

Behind this event lies a systematic effort. From this year, Qiujiadian town has started integrating book resources from three villages, and built a "15-minute reading circle" across nine villages. More than 120 events, such as storytelling by inheritors about their craft, have been held, bringing high-quality cultural resources directly to grassroots communities.